sticklers

plural of stickler
as in disciplinarians
a person who believes that something is very important and should be done or followed all the time Her father was a stickler about arriving on time.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sticklers Strict meal times and long happy hours tell us that the French are sticklers about having a break and leaning into leisure, which doesn’t sound half bad at all. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026 The rise of the grammar sticklers Many of today’s ideas about what constitutes correct English are based on a singular – often mistaken – 19th-century view of the forces that govern our language. Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 Yes, some sticklers would insist that greatly should never stand between to and excel. Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026 As carry-on only travelers, Ryan and I are sticklers about efficient packing. Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 2025 Regardless of what legal-ethics sticklers might think of its business model, the 156-person startup has been growing quickly. Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sticklers
Noun
  • You are asked to be teachers, counselors, social workers, disciplinarians, mentors, advocates, crisis managers and emotional anchors for children navigating an increasingly complicated world.
    Susana A. Mendoza, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • Turkey and White-Bean Chili Chili purists say there’s no place for beans in real chili, but since this recipe already bucks tradition by using turkey instead of ground beef, all bets are off.
    Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Some purists, who seemed content to classify what was essentially rock music from men as country but not Morris’s interpretation of the genre, were perturbed.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Work is work, and there’s writerly reward, too, in daily encounters with a diverse range of taskmasters across all social groups.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sticklers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sticklers. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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